Northland Lifestyle August 2014

Northland

august 2014

NorthlandLifestyle.com

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Editor's Letter

Three Years, A Thousand Stories Dear Readers, I’m sure a thousand is an exaggeration, but as I wrap up the first issue of our third year, it certainly feels that way to me.

When this magazine began, I knew how to get to roughly three places: Target, the grocery store and back down south, from whence I had just moved.

Fast forward three years and I see a vibrant community of locally owned businesses, innovative small restaurants, friendly neighbors and whip-smart kids. This magazine has afforded me the opportunity to dig deeper into the Northland than I ever would have without it and I hope that it allows you to do the same thing.

So it’s rather appropriate that this issue is titled Home Grown. We are featuring the people that have made a success for themselves here in the Northland from home brewers to photographers, airline innovators to safe makers. The Northland fosters a plucky spirit of ‘can-do’ that creates people that want to do something different.

Reading about the Cramer family, it’s easy to see this spirit in so many of their generations. They found a need and filled it in the most creative and profitable way they knew how. And everyone who sits in a desk chair can thank them.

august 2014 editor Rachel C. Murphy | RMurphy@LifestylePubs.com

contributing writers Lisa Allen, Pete Dulin, Jennifer Higgins, Tom Strongman

contributing photographers Reggie Banks, Blackberry Castle Productions, Pete Dulin, Lani Odell, Joel Schneider, Orval Hixon

regional director Michael Arel | MArel@LifestylePubs.com

advertising sales Annie Jennings | AJennings@LifestylePubs.com

copy editor | Kendra Mathewson Published monthly, subscriptions are also available for $22 for 1 year, $39 for 2 years by visiting NorthlandLifestyle.com

corporate team chief executive officer | Steven Schowengerdt chief sales officer | Matthew Perry chief financial officer | DeLand Shore national editor | Lisa Cooke Harrison director of marketing | Brad Broockerd

Orval Hixon was paving the way for Annie Liebovitz and Charles Demarchelier with his provocative vaudevillian portraits in the 1920s. His great nephew is keeping his art alive in Weston, Mo., where glass plates and silver nitrate still mean something.

More than anything, this magazine is home grown. I know that we are part of a larger company, but truly, readers, I feel like we get to play at being a magazine that tells stories because they are interesting or educational, something that is rare in today’s wobbly publishing market.

advertising director | Mike Baugher production director | Christina Sandberg art director | Sara Minor ad coordinators | Cyndi Vreeland, Samantha Engel national copy editor | Kendra Mathewson executive assistant | Lori Cunningham application architect | Michael O’Connell it director | Randy Aufderheide

So thank you. Thank you for reading and thank you for writing. And keep it up! I want to hear what you have to say, and what you want to see. Northland Lifestyle is about you. Show me what you’ve got!

Happy anniversary!

by Community ™

Rachel Murphy, Editor RMurphy@LifestylePubs.com

ON THE COVER Orval Hixon’s striking portraits re-

main vital today because of the Sundance Photo Gallery in Weston, Mo. Read more on page 28.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ORVAL HIXON AND PETE DULIN.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Contact us at:

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7373 West 107th Street Overland Park, KS 66212 913.599.4300 | NorthlandLifestyle.com Northland Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Northland’s most affluent neighborhoods.

Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.

Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Northland Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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August 2014

Departments

28

8

Good Times

12

Around Town

18

Family Feature

22

Giving Back

22

Giving Back

24

Field Trip

34

Hot Spot

38

Locally Owned

40 Star Student 42 Home Matters

18 Meet the Cramers

44 Driver’s Notebook

A family of innovators makes their home in the Northland.

28 Orval Hixon: Alive and Well

49 Sold Properties

Vaudevillian portrait artist’s work lives on at the Sundance Photo Gallery.

32 NanoBrews Grow Up

54 Parting Thoughts

Home brewers are making their mark in the Northland.

18

50 Lifestyle Calendar

32

34

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Good Times

McCrite Plaza at Briarcliff Grand Opening

McCrite Plaza at Briarcliff celebrated its official grand opening in early June with a ribbon-cutting ceremony (with the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce), Founders Club dinner and an open house event.

Gladstone Summertime Bluesfest

While rain threatened the 18th year of the free Gladstone Summertime Bluesfest, that didn’t stop blues lovers from enjoying two days of nonstop music and fun on June 6-7. PHOTOGRAPHY REGGIE BANKS, BLACKBERRY CASTLE PRODUCTIONS.

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Good Times

YMCA Challenge Your Fashion

Sports celebrities took the runway for an evening of fashion and fun benefiting the YMCA of Greater Kansas City’s Challenger Program for kids with special needs. Proceeds will help build two additional accessible synthetic turf baseball fields.

Tony Temple, Anthony Davis, Danielle Coulter, Kelly Davis

Cade Hudler, Chandler Hedrick

Event Co-Chairs Jeremy and Bree Gaskill; David Byrd, Cathy Allin

Natasha Martinez, Dan Walker

Marissa Holden and Jeff Allen 10

Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

Tracey and Ed Hubbard

Brian Harris, Elli Walker

Honorary Chair Shirley Pryor, Danielle Coulter, Sherilyn Tarver Scott and Sherri Hedrick

Around Town NOMINATIONS FOR LOOK NORTH AWARD SOUGHT The Clay County Economic Development Council is seeking nominations for the 2014 Look North Award. This prestigious award will be presented at the Development Council’s Look North Leadership Banquet at Harrah’s North Kansas City on October 16.

Nominations close August 25.

The award recognizes business achievement, civic leadership, cultural contribution and/or philanthropic commitment in Clay County. The award is merit-based and no deceased person or incumbent elected government official is eligible. The Look North Award Selection Committee is composed of past award recipients and the Development Council Chair.

For additional information call 816.468.4989 or e-mail info@clayedc.com.

PARK UNIVERSITY INTRODUCES MILITARY HISTORY DEGREE PROGRAM IN FALL 2014 Park University will offer a new degree program — the Bachelor of Science in Military History — to students this fall.

The military history degree program will combine Park’s liberal arts foundation with in-depth study of military-related events that have shaped the world in which we live today.

The degree focus will examine military history from a cultural, theoretical, historical, economic and scientific perspective.

The topics include the history of warfare, philosophy and theory, major wars and battles, science and technology, and the relationship of war and culture.

Park accepts transfer credits for military and veterans and is ranked highly by several esteemed military education publications, including Military Advanced Education, Military Times and G.I. Jobs.

Enrollment is open for Fall 2014 classes. For more information or to apply, visit Park.edu.

GRANT HELPS TRI-COUNTY SERVE MORE AREA RESIDENTS AT RISK The Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City has awarded Tri-County Mental 12

Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

Health Services’ Prevention Team a $130,000 grant to combat underage tobacco use.

The two-year grant provides for staff support, program materials and media support to reduce underage tobacco use among Kansas City young people in Clay and Platte counties.

“This is great news because it allows us to continue battling tobacco use among young people,” says Prevention/Wellness Manager Vicky Ward. “With our Northland Coalition teams and young people such as Youth with Vision, we’ve made great progress and this allows us to maintain the momentum.”

Tri-County was among only 20 organizations in the region to share $2.2 million in foundation health lifestyle grants. These grants support community partnerships that aim to increase access to healthy food, safe places to be physically active and reduce exposure to tobacco among the uninsured and underserved. Tri-County received a $120,000, two-year grant in 2012.

If you have any questions, call 816.468.0400 or visit Tri-CountyMHS.org.

cuisine exquisitely served in our main dining room or private dining areas,” Jorjadze says. “We will aim for an unpretentious but high-end experience that’s both affordable and fun.”

Chef John Woods, a Culinary Arts alumnus of Johnson County Community College, brings more than two decades of private club, restaurant, banquet and catering experience to ’37 Steak and plans a modern, seasonal approach to fine American cuisine.

Head craft bartender Michael Strohm plans unique drinks prepared with the finest liqueurs and homegrown ingredients to both entertain and educate guests.

Located at Harrah’s, 1 Riverboat Drive, North Kansas City, ’37 Steak is part of a development that includes a casino, a hotel, a performance venue, a sports bar and other amenities.

’37 STEAK TO BRING UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCE TO KANSAS CITY A new restaurant has opened. ’37 Steak, a new dining and nightlife venue unlike any in the Kansas City area, opened to the public on June 30, according to Irakli “BB” Jorjadze, general manager.

“Guest satisfaction will drive everything we do, from handcrafted cocktails and premier wines by the glass to seasonal

OLIN MOCHRIE, BRAD SHERWOOD TO HEADLINE FIFTH ANNUAL GIGGLE WITH GILDA Tickets are on sale now for Gilda’s Club Kansas City’s annual comedy fundraiser, Giggle with Gilda. Presented by Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City, the comedy-improv benefit featuring nationally recognized comedians and Whose Line Is It Anyway? stars Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood will be August 23 at Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City.

In addition to the comedy-improv, the show will feature the gifted Kansas City entertainer, Missy Koonce, as emcee and legendary Kansas City musician Lonnie McFadden who will perform with his band,

Around Town trumpet and signature tap dancing. Kansas City magician Todd Lamanske will provide pre-show entertainment as guests arrive.

The extraordinary evening of entertainment will benefit Gilda’s Club, a Kansas City cancer support community offering support groups, educational opportunities, social events and workshops in a home-like setting.

“With more than 60,000 people in the metro area living with cancer, there is a tremendous need for the Gilda’s Club program in Kansas City,” says Penni Johnson, president of Gilda’s Club Kansas City Board of Directors. For more information about Gilda’s Club Kansas City, visit GildasClubKC.org. For event sponsorship information, call 816.531.5444.

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NNI RECEIVES AMERISTAR GRANT Representatives from Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City presented a $25,000 check on behalf of its corporate foundation, The Pinnacle Entertainment Foundation, to Northland Neighborhoods, Inc. (NNI) on June 25. These funds will go toward rehabilitating housing for low to moderate income families.

“Pinnacle’s investment in housing rehabilitation will help stabilize aging Northland neighborhoods – house by house, block by block,” says Deb Hermann, NNI CEO. Following the check presentation, Ameristar volunteers joined NNI in a Work Day benefitting low-income residents.

PROVIDENCE NEW AMERICAN KITCHEN AND DRUM ROOM LOUNGE OFFER DOM PERIGNON BY THE GLASS Dom Pérignon, one of the world’s finest Champagnes, is now available by the glass, exclusively in Kansas City at Providence New American Kitchen and The Drum Room Lounge. Providence employs a unique pouring system developed by Dom Pérignon, made to preserve the bubbles and taste as if the bottle was just popped.

Before the availability of this pouring system, Dom Pérignon could only be enjoyed by the bottle for upwards of $200-$500 per bottle. Providence guests can now enjoy the world’s leading high-end Champagne for $45 per glass.

“Our staff received expert training to ensure the highest quality for every glass,” says Rick Brook, general manager of Providence New American Kitchen and The Drum Room Lounge. “Dom Perignon is no longer just a drink for special occasions, its superb taste can now be enjoyed any time in Kansas City.”

NEW PROGRAM IN THE NORTHLAND ENHANCES STEM LEARNING Bricks 4 Kidz®, the highly popular, nationwide children’s enrichment program that offers unique, educational LEGO® motorized model building, announced it is offering services in the Kansas City Northland area.

Using LEGO® Bricks, Bricks 4 Kidz has created a unique and proprietary model unlike any other in the country. This educational service provides children the opportunity to learn through play the basic concepts of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) while building self-confidence and problem-solving skills. In addition, the program is designed to foster teamwork and stimulate a child’s natural curiosity and imagination!

Two lifetime residents of the area are bringing this amazing program to the Northland. Life-long BFFs, Tara Yager and Lisa Deister both graduated from Park Hill High School, are currently raising their families in Parkville, and cannot imagine calling anywhere else their home.

Bricks 4 Kidz offers camps, classes, birthday parties, and kids night out events in Parkville, North Kansas City, Liberty and Platte City. Bricks 4 Kidz is also working in partnership with the Northland area school districts by providing unique in-school field trips as well as after school enrichment classes.

To find out more about Bricks 4 Kids, contact Tara Yager by phone 816.529.7954, email Tara@Bricks4KidzKC.com or visit the company website at Bricks4KidzKC.com.

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ON THE ROAD WITH NORTHLAND LIFESTYLE We want to know….Where do YOU read Northland Lifestyle? Do you read it on a train or on a plane? Or do you read it on the beach or in a cabin in the woods? The next time you hit the road, we hope you’ll pack our latest issue and snap a photo or two. Email your high resolution photos to RMurphy@LifestylePubs.com and we’ll try to include them in upcoming issues. Please include your name and destination location with each submission.

READ BETWEEN THE BUNS.

NORTH KANSAS CITY HOSPITAL AND EXCELSIOR SPRINGS HOSPITAL FORM PARTNERSHIP The Excelsior Springs Hospital Board of Trustees voted recently to enter into a management agreement with North Kansas City Hospital, effective July 1. Under the terms of the agreement, North Kansas City Hospital (NKCH) will provide operational oversight to Excelsior Springs Hospital (ESH) through the employment of current CEO Sally Nance, who has held the position for 24 years.

“The partnership means that our community will have seamless, local access to NKCH’s extensive network of specialists and services, and the hospital will have access to their financial and operational expertise,” says Sally Nance, ESH CEO. NKCH will also provide staffing and employee education to ESH as needed. ESH employees will continue to be employed by ESH.

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August 2014 | Northland Lifestyle

15

Reveal

Around Town “We have had a 40-year relationship with NKCH and this agreement will continue to strengthen that relationship,” says Rich Andrew, ESH Board president.

Michael Montgomery, M.D., NKCH Board chairperson, adds, “Collaboration and strategic alliances between community hospitals are important to the continued delivery of local and quality healthcare.”

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The Gators youth baseball team, part of North Kansas City Baseball Association and a 10U major baseball team from the Northland won the Global World Series in late June in Gulf Shores, Ala. They also won the Missouri/Kansas state baseball tournament, the Omaha Slumpbuster tournament and a national invitational tournament in Des Moines in early June. The team is comprised of mostly 10-year-old boys from the Liberty area, St. Therese School, and the Park Hill School District. They are led by Coach Dirk Kiser, along with Assistant Coaches Joe Daneff and Jason Brooks, an Oak Park High School graduate. The Gators ended the season ranked 4th in the country. For more information about North Kansas City Baseball Association, go to NKCA.leag1.com/.

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Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

Construction of a new senior living community in the Northland will be nearing completion at the end of 2014 and expects to open in the first quarter of 2015. The community, known as Benton House of Tiffany Springs, will feature senior living apartments and a separate, exclusive neighborhood dedicated to serving those experiencing Alzheimer’s disease or other related memory loss.

The community features a single story design with a variety of apartment style options. Community amenities include a bright, family style dining room, media center, a beauty and barber salon and a country kitchen for resident’s enjoyment.

The 37,000-square-foot community is being constructed by Meyer Brothers Construction and is a joint venture between Hunt-Midwest and Principal Senior Living Group. Other Benton House locations in the KC Metro include Benton House of Shoal Creek, Benton House of Lee’s Summit and Benton House of Prairie Village. The project will create 25 to 30 jobs. Interested applicants may apply directly on line at BentonHouse.com.

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Family Feature

Ongoing Innovation THE CRAMER FAMILY CONTINUES TO REVOLUTIONIZE ARTICLE PETE DULIN | PHOTOGRAPHY LANI ODELL AND PROVIDED

S

uccessive members of the Cramer family launched a wave of innovation that began in the 1880s and continues to make a splash in Kansas City’s community five generations later. Together with his wife, Dawn, Bruce Cramer of Cramer Capital Management provides modern innovative financial security solutions to clients. However, the family’s business success began with another form of financial security, safes.

In 1886, J.W. Cramer, great-great-grandfather of Bruce, traveled from West Virginia to Kansas City and established the Cramer Bros. Safe Company. The firm specialized in the marketing and manufacture of safes, vault doors, and safety deposit boxes, all built from original designs. Sons Jess and Roy Cramer, Sr. took over the business during the Depression era. Roy’s two sons also joined the family firm – Roy Jr. in sales and Harold in the shop.

The Cramers developed unique features like a tiered interior design for some safes that made it more difficult to drill and break into, explains Dawn.

Harold left the family business to work in the office furniture industry, where he learned about posture chairs. As the American 18

Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

workforce transitioned from farm work to office jobs, these chairs were in high demand. However, the original adjustable design required tools that were tricky to operate. The chairs required too much maintenance. Harold returned to Cramer and developed an improved model.

The Cramer Posture Chair debuted in 1934 and featured an adjustable upholstered seat and back. When Harold demonstrated the chair for J.C. Hall, president of Hallmark Cards, Inc., he was greatly impressed. The company ordered thousands of the chairs.

The Cramer family sold the safe business in 1940 and reformed as Cramer, Inc., concentrating on product innovation, design and manufacture of comfortable, supportive chairs. The corporate reformation and design focus preceded the build-up to World War II. Cramer rapidly produced crew chairs for heavy bomber airplanes, gunner chairs for Navy battleships, and non-magnetic chairs for minesweepers for the U.S. war effort.

When the U.S. government monopolized the purchase of steel for arms manufacture, Cramer produced a new all-wood chair design. Post-war, Cramer’s commercial chair production

shifted to all-aluminum office and industrial chairs.

Their hard-to-replicate manufacturing process cast aluminum parts by permanent-mold process.

The Kik-Step®, a rolling-step stool developed in the 1950s, proved wildly popular. To date, Cramer has sold more than four million Kik-Steps.

Cramer LLC still operates in downtown Kansas City. The family’s tradition of innovation and entrepreneurialism continues in other fields. Equally important, the Cramer family is dedicated to giving back to the community in Kansas City.

Volunteer service and stewardship of the community are core values of the Cramer code. For example, news personality Stan Cramer launched and reported the popular “Call for Action” series” on KSHB/Channel 41. The series investigated shady business dealings and protected consumers.

Today, financial security involves more than locking

money away in a safe. Northland residents Bruce and Dawn, parents of five children, help their high net-worth clients at Cramer Capital Management (CCM) to build and retain wealth. Bruce, a 27-year financial service industry veteran, and Dawn, offer distinct products and innovative services for individual and business investors.

“We’re starting Cramer University,” Dawn says.

The program will educate children of wealthy clients on how to save, invest, and protect a family’s financial legacy. Sizable wealth earned by one family generation is often spent and squandered by the successive third generation.

The Cramers also hired private money managers that specialize in socially CONTINUED >

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Family Feature

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(CONTINUED)

responsible mutual funds, such as a fund that adheres to Catholic teachings and values.

“We can offer a fund that aligns with our clients’ Catholic values,” says Dawn.

As an independent firm, CCM also has the flexibility to pick from a wider range of the best financial products to suit client needs.

“We are a custom boutique for wealth management and can customize investments and plans to client specifications,” Dawn explains.

The couple invests time in the business and charitable giving community.

They are active leaders in the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce. Bruce has served on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of KC and the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.

They have also been active fundraisers for the American Diabetes Association-KC. They hosted Let’s Get Jazzed, an annual ADA-KC fundraiser held at the American Jazz Museum.

“We’ve raised $130,000 over the past four years,” Dawn says.

Now that Bruce serves on the board of Newhouse, a battered women’s shelter, the Cramers will direct proceeds from the jazz fundraiser to this worthy organization.

For more than 125 years, five generations of Cramers have channeled innovation, ideas and hard work into successful

Nominated for Small Business of the Year Greater Kansas City

ventures. From that wealth of resources, they have given back to their community.

Dawn explains the family’s lineage and track record of success.

“The family is passionate about innovation,” she says. “Bruce’s grandfather was passionate about invention. We’re passionate about wealth management and educating clients. The Cramers are outof-the-box thinkers. The family roots are about being a leader in the community and setting an example.”

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Giving Back

Planting Trees and Forging Bonds with The Giving Grove ARTICLE LISA ALLEN | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

I

thought of countless ways to start this article. The old ‘teach a man to fish’ saying seemed plausible if I swapped ‘plant a tree’ for fishing. So did the tired ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ adage.

Problem is, those words are trite. They don’t do justice to the work that’s happening every day, right here in our own communities, to provide fresh fruit to those who are hungry and worried about their next meal and at the same time empowering them to change their circumstances by investing their time in a little orchard.

Though The Giving Grove, an affiliate of the Kansas City Community Garden, is a non-profit organization that focuses on self-help and educational assistance to low-income residents to grow their own food—specifically apples, nuts and berries--this article isn’t just about apples.

It’s about what the apples mean not only to the people who can pluck them from the branch and eat them, but for those who help clear the trash, prime the soil, dig the holes and nurture the plants from seedling to tree. This is about the primal connection that food creates for families and about how, when communities come together in the pursuit of a common goal, the landscape can change in more ways than one.

Executive Director Robert Reiman has an arsenal of statistics at his disposal. One in five children in the state of Kansas lives in a food insecure home. The numbers are higher in Missouri: the state has the fifth highest rate of child food insecurity. For the quarter of a million people affected in the Kansas City metro area, food insecurity means a marked decline in economic opportunity, productivity and academic achievement and studies have shown that proper nutrition in the first three years of life makes a profound impact in the lives of children and their families.

Reiman had retired after a 27-year career as a principal at Deloitte Consulting and was focused on an environmental ministry at his church when he was approached by former Kansas State Representative Jill Quigley, who connected him to Kevin Birzer, Greg

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Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

Finkle and Ray Makalous of the Church of the Resurrection. Reiman has grown fruit in his own backyard for more than 10 years, and the men shared a desire to create a sustainable, organic option to help the food insecure population of Kansas City.

“We know there are backpack programs and other initiatives to help,” says Reiman. “But we saw a need for non-processed foods and wanted to fill that gap with an option that would be available even if backpacks were no longer being sent home with students. We started with a ‘kick the tires’ workshop because we needed to test the idea before we got too far into the process. The strong support we found inspired me to better understand food insecurity, and I got really jazzed about the idea of not just providing food, but of coaching people in neighborhoods that are most affected how to grow their own food, and in teaching kids where their food is coming from.”

The Giving Grove’s model is an inclusive one. Though it grew from connections of faith, the organization is ecumenical and strives to complement, rather than compete with, other organizations. The difference is that The Giving Grove focuses on little orchards both for fresh produce and to strengthen the bonds between residents in each community.

“It seems simple enough, to plant a tree,” says Reiman, “but it can be dicey. Not all trees are created equal, and there are issues like disease resistance and ease of maintenance to consider. Education is an important component in the success of each little orchard.”

The organization requires that at least two people commit to each project. These people must be from different families, and must learn to care for the newly planted trees not only by scouting regularly for disease but also by maintaining the area in which the trees are planted.

“I have so many stories,” says Reiman, as he talks about how various Kansas City communities have embraced The Giving Grove’s mission.

There was one steward at the Wyandotte Countians Against Crime neighborhood who told Reiman ‘I can’t grow dirt, but I think we can do better’ as they discussed the crime rate and how the area looked more like a dumping ground than a place in which to raise a family.

“There was another time we were out around Tenth and Newton,” says Reiman. “The neighborhood didn’t know that we’d be there planting, as it was a faith-based food pantry that procured the rights to a piece of property and started the project. We show up and start planting, and about an hour into it I look across the street and see a door open just a crack, with a woman watching us.

So I walked over and I introduced myself. She asked what we were doing, and I said ‘We’re planting this for you. This is your orchard.’

“Thing is, when it’s their orchard it’s more than just food. It’s also a chance for them to work together to make their neighborhood stronger,” says Reiman.

The Giving Grove is three planting seasons old. The original goal was to have planted five little orchards in 2013. They did 21.

By the end of this spring’s planting season, they had 38 edible tree gardens sprinkled across the Kansas City metro area.

“We can plant twice a year,” he says, “in April and fall. Spring planting needs to be done by about May 10, but we get a little bit more time in the fall, sometimes through November, depending on the weather.”

The organization is committed to digging holes and planting by hand whenever possible, so as to minimize the negative effects of heavy machinery on the land. Extra hands are always welcome, says Reiman, especially when The Giving Grove is serving a more senior neighborhood.

“We’re trying to make as great an impact as rapidly as possible” says Reiman. The focus in the off-season is to queue up the next season’s projects, continue to improve operations and to educate stewards about maintaining a healthy orchard and the importance of patience.

“Trees need three to five years in the ground to produce fruit,” he says. “For berry bushes, however, we see fruit in year two. As we move forward, we’ll be thinking through the stewards’ role in distributing the food, how to preserve the fruit post-season and how we can continue to create community through the little orchards.”

To learn more about or volunteer with The Giving Grove, visit GivingGrove.org.

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Field Trip

History at Hangar 9: A Trip to the National Aviation History Museum A JAUNT THROUGH HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS TECHNOLOGY ARTICLE LISA ALLEN | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

I

am the mother of three kids: two teenage boys and a tweenaged girl. If I’ve learned anything this summer, it’s that their collective mission in life is to disagree and prove each other wrong.

So imagine my surprise when each of them agreed that visiting a museum—a local museum, no less—sounded like fun. I saw the immediate draw for the boys: knowing they’d see machines that fly trumped the fact that the word ‘history’ was in the name of the destination. So we set off from our home on the Kansas side of the state line and ventured north to Hangar 9 at the downtown airport in Kansas City, Mo. Their elation deflated just a bit when we wound around the back road and approached the building. It isn’t at all grand; it looks rather military and more than a little drab. We were greeted by two volunteers when we entered, and promptly directed to our seats—actual airline seats from days gone by-- to watch a video about the history of aviation.

After the video we were allowed to wander through a room of exhibits. The museum says it is the nation’s premiere commercial aviation museum, and that its purpose is to preserve, maintain and operate historic aircraft while educating and inspiring the public. We wandered through and looked at an original Bidder’s

Pass, complete with a hand written note from “Paul” saying he had to pay a $100 deposit to obtain it. The exhibit room includes original passenger seats and vintage Country Club Plaza posters that celebrate TWA, but it was the uniforms and vintage information about airline stewardesses that most interested my daughter.

We looked at the “Pretty Girl” uniforms that were worn from 1938-1944. We read about the restrictive rules that were imposed on original flight attendants: they had to be a Registered Nurse, between the ages of 21 and 26, and unmarried for the duration of their service. Height and weight restrictions were imposed.

Women who stood 5’3” to 5’4” had to weigh between 105 and 120 pounds, for example, and none could be taller than 5’6” or weigh more than 130 pounds.

My boys were more interested in the docent led tour through the aircraft structures. We started with the Dehmel Trainer, named after Dr. Richard C. Dehmel, who received a patent in 1950 for a device that used electronic circuits to duplicate an aircrafts’ responses to control inputs.

We moved on to the TWA Moonlighter, which is on loan from its owner, and to the other aircraft in the hangar. We didn’t walk away remembering the names or the designations CONTINUED >

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Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

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Field Trip

(CONTINUED)

of each aircraft but we were smitten with the stories and peppered with science lessons. Our tour guide paid attention to each of us, asking, for example, if we knew what pressurization was as we toured the Martin 404.

It was fascinating to walk through a restored cabin and see the sleeper space, where the docent told us only celebrities could afford to rest their heads. He pointed out the seat in which Jim Carrey sat for the filming of Ace Ventura When Nature Calls and talked of the movie The Aviator, which featured the Lockheed Super “G” Constellation, affectionately known as “Star of America.”

It was fun to walk into the cockpits and sit in the pilot and co-pilot’s chairs, and the kids learned that the navigator—not the pilot—was responsible for charting the stars and calculating where the plane was at any given moment. In a world filled with GPS and computer programs, the brief time we spent revisiting how air travel started was a keen reminder not only of history, but of progress and determination. We left reminded that airline travel as we know it is only convenient and accessible because of the rich history and dedication of so many men and women through history.

Since we weren’t yet ready to return

home—and starving after our two hour tour—we drove the 10 minutes to Armour Road and made it just in time to nab the last hot dogs at Clay’s Curbside Grill. I was bummed that I couldn’t try the Reuben Dog—it was sold out, as was the Hawaiian Dog—but the Coney Dog was delish. My daughter loved the Slaw Dog and my oldest has already asked if we can go back again for the KC Dog. To walk off our lunch, we wandered up Armour Road and stopped into LeMonde Bakery. Even though it was fifteen minutes past their posted closing time, owner Jeff Dover welcomed us in and encouraged us to stay.

As we nibbled on our treats—gigantic cinnamon rolls for each of my kids, an apricot cheese croissant for me—he told us that they go through two tons of flour every week, and that the postcards that are scattered under the glass topper at each table have been mailed by to Dover by customers who have ventured to places across the globe.

We left reminded that there are interesting stories and sweet treats everywhere, even close to home, if we only stop to look.

For more information about the National Airline Museum, visit AirlineHistory.org.

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Shooting Stars Orval Hixon’s Enduring Photography of a Vanished World ARTICLE PETE DULIN | PHOTOGRAPHY PETE DULIN AND ORVAL HIXON

O

rval Hixon’s dark hair, piercing eyes and confident smile radiated a handsomeness that would turn heads today. Rather than pose for the camera, this Vaudeville and Silent Film Era photographer captured the most prominent and emerging film stars, vamps, vixens and dancers of his time.

Hixon’s 1924 photograph of vaudeville dancer Billie Cassin, taken in his Baltimore Hotel studio in downtown Kansas City, captured a slender ingenue with bared shoulders. Her demure face, softly backlit, contrasted with a daring pose of delicate hands resting against her barely-covered chest. Racy as it was for the time, Hixon exhibited an artist’s eye for use of light and shadow in his photography to definitively capture a striking look for subjects that often later found fame. Cassin was discovered by an MGM Studio talent scout in Chicago, changed her name to Joan Crawford, made over 80 films in Hollywood, and won an Academy Award.

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Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

Like Crawford, Marie Dressler, Al Jolson, Annette Kellermann and Buddy Rogers were just a few of the many subjects that Hixon photographed early in their career. They each found popular acclaim and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Hixon, originally from Richmond, Mo., wanted to be an artist when he was a child.

His dream was shattered when he learned in the third grade that he was colorblind.

Instead, he applied his creative drive through the medium of photography.

He procured his first camera in 1898 as a child and used 2.5-inch glass plate negatives. After failing to secure work as a news photographer in his teens, Hixon began shooting Kansas properties for the Union Pacific Railroad. The hot, boring work of landscape photography in rural Kansas while traveling in the caboose of a cattle train stymied young Hixon’s ambition. He apprenticed himself to portrait photographer Lyman Studebaker in bus-

tling Kansas City, where he began to learn his craft. By 1914, he opened a studio on Main Street and moved his workspace to the Baltimore Hotel eight years later. Over his nearly 80-year career, Hixon shot nearly half-million photographs over 37,000 sittings, using 8x10 and 11x14 large-format cameras.

Hixon’s work not only captured some of the greatest entertainers of his bygone era, but also helped to define the evolving form of celebrity portraiture.

Kansas City was a railroad stop on the vaudeville and Orpheum theater circuit in the Twenties. Hixon took full advantage of the heyday of silent films and live entertainment. He attended shows at the Orpheum and the Schubert theaters near his studio, sat in the front row, and studied his subjects. He met dancers, actors and entertainers, took their photograph in his studio post-show, drank socially with some of them afterward, and then rushed back to his studio to develop the negative. Hixon delivered prints to the performers before they hopped on the train the next morning bound for the next city.

In time, word spread on the circuit that a studio visit with Orval Hixon was a must. Entertainers wanted high-quality, creative publicity images to sell their looks and talent to booking agents and promote their work in theater publications.

With his innovative style, Hixon was a kindred spirit that produced stunning portraits.

Despite hob-knobbing with famous entertainers and celebrities, Hixon wasn’t star-struck. He socialized with his subjects on a casual basis. For instance, famed comedienne, singer and actress Fanny Brice made spaghetti dinner for Hixon. Many times a celebrity in town would show up at Hixon’s studio and wait for him. The sought-after photographer didn’t fawn over beautiful people. In fact, he used the same dramatic techniques to produce fine images of anyone that walked into his studio for a sitting.

As a portrait photographer, Hixon cared about his craft and producing definitive images. Despite being color-blind, he took evening classes at the Kansas City Art Institute to improve his sense of composition. Combined with his technical skills, Hixon’s artistic sense and strong work ethic defined his approach.

Jim Finley, the great nephew of Hixon, runs Sundance Photo Gallery in a historic building at 525 Main Street in Weston, Mo.,

and sells archival prints of Hixon’s work. Sundance displays images of Indians such as Two Guns White Calf, Senator James A. Reed, and celebrities galore. In the gallery, Finley is a living link to Hixon and historian of this precious body of work. Walking through the space, filled with sepia-tone prints and a collection of old cameras, is an intriguing trip back in time.

Finley, a trained photographer himself, describes Hixon’s experimental style of lighting and manipulation of the negative as “early Photoshop.” He married an artist’s painterly techniques with the mechanical hardware of the camera and plates, making masterful use of all tools at his disposal.

He shot portrait work in a small, sparse studio, making the most of light, shadow and the costumes and personality of his subjects to create art. Further, Hixon retouched his negative glass plates, etched and painted directly on plates and prints to add or subtract lighting for dramatic effect, and used soft-focus techniques.

His shot of Ina Alcova, dubbed “The Flying Alcova,” depicts the dancer flying through the air with her head and limbs flung back. In reality, she was posed on a table that was later removed from the background. Hixon used a chemical to bleach out part of the background and smeared lampblack on the glass plate with his fingers to create sweeping clouds against a gloomy sky.

A photograph of Russian dancer and actor Theodore Kosloff depicts his dark, brooding gaze directly at the camera. The large lens and shallow depth-of-field used create a dreamlike image. A romantic shot of Vera Beresford, a statuesque star of stage and screen, balances pale skin and a white blouse with her brunette hair, painted lips and shadowy silhouette. The effect both softens and heightens her classic beauty, making her appear approachable and daunting at once.

CONTINUED >

Jim Finley

August 2014 | Northland Lifestyle

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SHOOTING STARS

(CONTINUED)

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Despite growing demand for his services from movie studios, Hixon declined to move to Hollywood. Vaudeville and silent films died out after The Great Depression as talking films grew in popularity. As a result, performers traveled less frequently on the theater circuit to Kansas City. Hixon anticipated less demand for his local services and adapted his business operations.

Hixon eventually closed his studios in Liberty, Kansas City and Manhattan, Ks. He relocated to Lawrence, set up a studio in the Eldridge Hotel and later moved to 721 Massachusetts. There, he focused on producing portrait photography for families, children, graduations and weddings. In 1971, Hixon donated nearly 250 prints from 1915-1930 to Kansas University. The prints rotate on display at the Spencer Museum of Art. Hixon’s work not only captured some of the greatest entertainers of his bygone era, but also helped to define the evolving form of celebrity portraiture.

“Orval Hixon’s photographs capture and reveal better than any I have ever seen, the attitudes, temperaments, personalities and talents of the people who made his world and mine during the second and third decade of this century,” vaudeville performer Joe Page wrote in the preface to Main Street Studio. The book accompanied a 1971 exhibition of Hixon’s work at the University of Kansas Museum of Art. Page continues, “Orval Hixon’s photographs of show people are a priceless record of that vanished world.”

The artistry and power of Hixon’s work endures on display online (SundancePhotoGallery.com) and at Sundance Photo Gallery in Weston. His work is also part of the permanent The Orval Hixon Gallery on exhibit at the downtown Kansas City Library.

Relatives Charles David Hixon, Linda Hixon, and James R. Finley donated more than 150 digital photographic prints, produced from Hixon’s original glass plate negatives, for the gallery.

Nano Brews are

Growing Up CRAFT BREWING HERE TO STAY IN NORTHLAND ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY PETE DULIN

H

op Maven #2. Tart of Awesomeness.

Orc Ale. Techno Viking Imperial Berliner Weisse. These craft beers with imaginative names were just a few of the 112 offerings at the fifth annual KC Nanobrew Festival held in June. The event demonstrated how craft beer has gained a strong following north of the river that’s here to stay. That development is an important, exciting trend for several reasons.

Traditionally, the home brewing-based festival has been a proving ground for several local breweries that started as home brewers. More than 200 people with a penchant for craft beer attended the festival, filling the Liberty City Hall parking lot on a day rampant with rain showers. Brief bouts of heavy rain did not deter dedicated attendees of all ages and

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Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

backgrounds curious to try original flavor combinations with descriptive names.

Dozens of home brewers and Northland craft breweries Cinder Block and Rock & Run Brewery gladly poured samples and shared notes about their creations.

Cinder Block and The Big Rip Brewing Company, both located in downtown North Kansas City, and Liberty-based Rock & Run Brewery and Pub have opened in the past two years. The men that founded all three businesses started as home brewers and expanded their operation to a much larger scale. KC Nanobrew Festival provided them a platform to network with beer drinkers and gauge which beers proved most popular.

These breweries launched to meet growing demand for craft beer. Boulevard Brewing has done an admirable job over 25 years of introducing locals to the merits of fresh craft beer and creating a market. Now, craft beer enthusiasts in the Northland have even more choices to order lagers, stouts, porters and India pale ales brewed close to

ty and the public. The run/walk event at the Liberty Community Center attracted participants from the Northland and throughout the city. Afterward, the brewery held a family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day celebration and street party, featuring face painting for kids and live music.

Rock & Run’s sponsorship of the KC Nanobrew Festival also made sense as a way to connect with an audience interested in craft beer. Hatcher and his

time and money, both important to the local economy.

The three Northland breweries, poised for continued growth as demand for craft beer grows, have created jobs, fostered synergy with other local businesses and suppliers, and added to local tax revenues.

While they may not expand to rival Bouhome. These smaller-scale breweries have levard Brewing’s marketplace dominance, also each taken steps to support the comthe emergence of local craft breweries is a munity that supports them with each visit. boon for the area’s economic growth.

One overall goal of The Big Rip From a cultural standpoint, Brewing Company, founded by Josh The three Northland breweries, events like the KC Nanobrew FestiCollins and Kipp Feldt in May 2013, val and the availability of local craft poised for continued growth as beer only adds to the appeal of livwas to be part of the community. demand for craft beer grows, have ing in the thriving Northland. Res“For Kipp and I, it started before we even opened,” says Collins. “We created jobs, fostered synergy with idents seeking cool experiences and started our charitable program other local businesses and suppliers, family-friendly venues can support where we give 10 percent of our locally-owned businesses that give and added to local tax revenues. back to the community. gross revenue receipts to charity.

Each quarter we choose a differFor Liberty, North Kansas City, ent one. In the past year, we’ve given over business partner, brewer Gene DeClue, and the rest of the Northland, these de$3,000 to charities like SocialHeart, Ur- both began as home brewers before they velopments are worthy of raising a glass ban Growth and Bike Walk KC. Along opened a brewery and pub. The festival is with a hearty toast. with this, we host events each quarter a chance to court attendwhere we give back a portion of the events ees by trying food and proceeds and donate lots of merchandise drink from the brewery to different organizations to help raise and pub located less than a block away. money or awareness.”

Further, the festival is Rock & Run Brewery and Pub, located just off historic Liberty square, sponsored yet another way for Rock the inaugural 2014 5K Sham Rock and & Run and other busiRun. Dan Hatcher, co-founder of Rock nesses to support events & Run and a long-distance runner, helped that draw people to Libto launch the event was a way to reach out erty. That draw encourto the KC Northland running communi- ages people to spend

August 2014 | Northland Lifestyle

33

Hot Spot

BC Bistro Brings a Fresh Face to Food NEW KANSAS CITY NORTH RESTAURANT OFFERS FRESH INGREDIENTS ARTICLE RACHEL C. MURPHY | PHOTOGRAPHY JOEL SCHNEIDER

I

n an unassuming strip mall on NW Prairie View Road, there are delightful things happening in the kitchen. What was once a slightly shady looking Mexican joint has recently been transformed into the fresh and lovely BC Bistro.

The Bistro is aptly named. Its menu is full of simple but delicious dishes.

You won’t find any thing with foam on the menu, but you will find hearty sandwiches, pastas and salads aplenty as well as a few main course options.

With a focus on simple tastes, combined well with fresh ingredients, the small restaurant hits its mark.

On my first visit during the lunch hour, I was greeted and promptly seated by Coley Rice, the C of the BC Bistro. She met the chef, Brent Mattison, while working together at Nick and Jake’s in Parkville. Over the course of four years, the pair developed a working relationship that proved that they had the chops to open their own place and in April of this year, they made it happen.

Looking over the menu, they have truly created bistro fare. The idea of combining flavors and dishes from multiple cultures and cuisines works here, almost like a Cheesecake Factory, but done 34

Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

well. Portions are generous but not obscene and everything was incredibly flavorful.

On this particular lunch, my companion and I started with the calamari appetizer ($8). The calamari was lightly breaded in a crispy, not soggy or leaden batter and cooked until just done. No rubber rings here. The best part? The squid was intermixed with cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella balls as well and served with a marinara sauce and a spicy aioli.

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Hot Spot

(CONTINUED)

peppers and spinach. While it came with a side of either house fires, chips or a pasta salad, I chose the $2 upcharge to try one of the other sides, the creole risotto. While only on the menu as a side dish, this rich risotto dotted with shrimp and rich with the holy trinity of Cajun spices could have held up on its own with a small side salad.

On my second visit, I opted to test out their happy hour. I’m often struck by the lack of good, locally owned happy hours in the Northland, so I was pleasantly surprised to see not only drink specials of discounted martinis, house wines and beer, but more than a dozen options for food ranging from $4 to $7. It’s quite easy to make a meal out of the options available, especially as some of them where not on the regular menu.

My husband and I shared a veritable smorgasboard of well-wrought bar snacks: fried pickles ($4), pork fajita nachos ($6), shrimp and crab dip with house made chips ($5) and buffalo chicken fries ($5). The pickles and fries were not on the normal menu, but should be.

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Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

Instead of long spears, destined to burn the roof of you mouth, these fried pickles were light and crispy slices, perfect for dipping in the spicy aoli. The fries were fresh as well and looked to be hand cut, topped with generous chunks of fried chicken in hot sauce. Health food it’s not, but it certainly tasted good.

The shrimp and crab dip was slightly disappointing. It was tasty, but the primary flavor was definitely of cheese and cream, but only a hint of crab. Still more than palatable and the only dish I had that could be improved, and even then, it was nothing to sneeze at. The pork fajita nachos were excellent, topped not only with pulled pork, but sautéed onions and red peppers and pico de gallo.

I tried the Lemon Tini and the husband tried the Blue Crush, a drink that promised to make you feel like you’re beach side.

His proved true, with a healthy hit of Malibu rum and blue curacao. Mine was a good, but basic lemon drop martini. If I had one wish, it would be to see some either savory or at least not so sweet cocktails on the list.

An elderflower or cucumber infused libation would have cut through the richness of the snacks nicely. A bump up of the beer menu would also be great.

Our service was spot on and the server mentioned that the menu would be changing soon, so new dishes should be available as of this reading. They also have a Sunday brunch that is drawing raves.

For a nascent bistro, I would say that BC Bistro is doing quite well. With a dedication to quality, a seasonal menu and killer happy hour, they should soon be a local favorite at any time of day.

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Open Monday through Friday 9 to 6 and Saturday 9 to 5 August 2014 | Northland Lifestyle

37

Locally Owned

Lauren’s Hope Brings Fashion to Function MEDICAL ID BRACELETS TAKE A TRENDY TURN ARTICLE JENNIFER HIGGINS | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

I

t all started in 2001 when 13-year-old Lauren, a diabetic, started going places without her parents, and they worried if something happened, no one would know she had diabetes. Enter LeAnne Carlson, who had a small craft business making beaded mother’s bracelets. She made Lauren a beaded bracelet with a medical ID tag, and suddenly, the company Lauren’s Hope was born.

Lauren’s Hope is now a 21-employee company that has 6,000 square feet in Riverside, Mo. With help from articles in Women’s Day and Family Circle, Carlson forgot about the craft business and focused her energies on making medical bracelets that were attractive to wear.

“Just focusing on diabetes alone, there are 26 million people with diabetes in the United States. I don’t have 26 million customers, so I continue to spread the word and expand my reach. There are still people out there who don’t realize a medical ID bracelets can be pretty,” Carlson says.

A new aspect Carlson’s company is adding is tying technology to the brace-

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Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

lets along with the engraved info, with smart phone access, an online profile, and a live operator all reached with a scannable QR code.

“Customers are able to set up an online profile, and add their medical history. A quick scan can give rescue workers the medical information needed to help,” Carlson says.

In addition, Carlson is involved on the national level with JDRF, helping with the annual walk and having a booth at the exhibit. She also donates locally as well.

“I love to donate locally,” Carlson says. “We’re connected with Autism Awareness, and through a program called Kids with Courage, we help provide gift baskets with free medical bracelets to kids at Children’s Mercy Hospital. We also donate a lot of product to social workers that know the needs of their patients. We contribute to silent auctions and fundraising galas, and donate our time at Harvesters and Habitat For Humanity.”

Carlson employs as many local people as she can, from administrative to sales to marketing and design to customer service, and strives to keep a fun atmosphere in her company.

“I love keeping as much local as I can,” she says. “I hate automated answering systems. We are one of the few companies where a real person will still answer the phone. We run a lot of 5k’s—it’s fun to get

out of the office. I’ll pay the admission fee, and whoever wants to can run.”

One additional function of Lauren’s Hope is reaching out to corporate wellness programs, to let companies know about the bracelets available for their employees.

“Many people travel, so a company might want to purchase a bracelet for their employee to wear. Some employers may purchase for their employees, while some will just let their employees know about the programs,” Carlson says.

The company may have started out with only diabetes bracelets, but quickly grew to include just about any type of medical condition.

It’s our 3rd Anniversary And we just want to thank you for making each year extraordinary!

One testimonial on their website reads: “I bought my first medical alert bracelet at the Kansas City, Kans., Junior League Christmas show more than eight years ago. Now I’m proud to say I own eight more bracelets. I receive compliments every where and people grab my wrist and ask me where I found such a pretty medical alert bracelet and I am more than glad to tell them. The only time I have my bracelet off is when I’m in the shower. Why do I think it’s so important to always have it on? If I had an accident or unforeseen disaster, the medical team would know immediately what drugs I was allergic too and which side I had my mastectomy on, which is very important.”

Bracelets can be purchased through the website at LaurensHope.com, and you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Men, women, boys and girls all have options that include bracelets, necklaces, ankle bracelets, dog tags and sports bands.

August 2014 | Northland Lifestyle

39

Star Student

Elevating Expectations MEET STAR STUDENT EMMA NYE ARTICLE LISA ALLEN | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

E

mma Nye has a knack for excelling at things kids aren’t supposed to do.

Emma started in gymnastics at Mercury Gymnastics when she was 3 years old. She was ranked in the top 15 in the in her age group from the time she was 7 to 11, eventually training at level eight.

For reference, college aged competitors typically train at level ten.

Emma broke her foot when she was 10, and then again when she was 11. Her doctor told her it was time to retire from gymnastics, and Emma started sports performance rehab.

That’s where she learned about CrossFit. “I saw adults working out, but there were no kids. I like doing things that kids aren’t supposed to do, and my coach, Christine Prohaska, took me under her wing and started working with me,” she says.

Emma’s training led to her first competition in February 2014, in Council Bluff, Iowa. She dead lifted 145 pounds. Emma started working with Olympic lifting coach Mike Rosewell, and then entered another meet three months later in Des Moines, Iowa. She placed first and qualified for the 2014 Youth Nationals in Daytona Beach, Fla., in June. Emma returned home the National Champion after training for less than five months.

“I am so proud of Emma,” says Rosewell. “She is physically, and more importantly mentally, tougher than any 11 year old I have ever met. She was presented with a challenge and an opportunity and she took it. She became National Champion with only four and a half months of lifting experience. She has a bright future in this sport and I can’t wait to see it.”

“Emma just has this drive in her,” says her father, Shawn Nye. “Gymnastics is a solitary sport that she really loved, and when she could no longer do that this seemed to be a natural fit. She’s the only one on stage, she sets her goals and she goes for what she wants. She always has.”

Nye says his daughter’s determination isn’t just about sports.

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Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

Having been an honor student since she started school, Emma set her sights on the Sage Program, a special class for gifted students.

She tested in the third grade but missed being accepted by just a few points.

When she was in the sixth grade, and without telling her parents, Emma petitioned the school district for another chance to take the test. She passed, and will be in the Sage Program this coming school year. Emma will start seventh grade at Newmark Middle School this fall, and says that math and social studies are her favorite subjects.

“I really like learning history,” she says.

Emma says that she loves both weightlifting and CrossFit, and she aspires to be a professional CrossFitter. She’d like to make a career of traveling and competing, and eventually wants to teach CrossFit for kids.

Emma’s summer schedule is packed; as of this writing, she was training for a meet where she aspires to break the national record for the 13 and under 39kg division as well as a CrossFit competition in Iowa this month and the Kansas State Weightlifting Championships in September.

“I just want to keep trying hard to keep getting better,” she says. “I’m really happy that I’m able to do this.”

Big enough to serve...Small enough to care.

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Home Matters

After the Storm ASSESSING YOUR ROOF ARTICLE RACHEL C. MURPHY

W

hile meteorologists are thrilled with inclement weather, your roof may not be. After a summer full of storms, bearing hail, downed trees and more, some may be wondering if it might be time to make a home owner’s insurance claim.

Jerry Courson, owner of Premier Siding, Roofing and Home Improvement, says that the number one tool in your arsenal when it comes to your roof is research.

“When major storms come through, you see the after effects: salespeople going door to door offering to repair damage. Not all of these people mean harm, but a number of them work for out of town operations that tend to be underinsured and more interested in wracking up a bill rather than doing a service,” says Courson.

Instead, if you feel that you may have damage that needs a claim, Courson recommends finding a reputable roofer through the Better Business Bureau and having an inspection done before you contact your insurance company.

“Do your research. Has the company been in the area for a long time? Do they have satisfied customers? Are they insured for roofing, and not just general construction? These things can all have an impact on your project,” he says.

Courson says that if the damage to your roof is not immediately threatening leakage or damage of property, then caution and thoroughness is your best plan. Although you may be tempted to call the insurance company right away, that can lead to a claim against your insurance with no payout.

42

Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

“When you call and make a claim, they will come out and do an inspection. If they determine that the damage is not due to natural causes, whether that’s correct or not, they can deny your claim, but it will still go on your record, which can raise your rates,” he says.

Instead, survey the damage yourself, and if you think you may have a claim, contact your local trusted roofing professional.

Courson reminds us that you have a year from the initial damage to report that damage to your insurance company and file a claim.

That’s plenty of time to investigate your situation thoroughly yourself and with an inspector.

For some damage, a full roof replacement might not be necessary. Courson says that roofs can be repaired in smaller sections, although wood roofs will blend with the patched spot more quickly than composite shingles, generally within a year.

Courson also reminds us that when an insurance claim is made, the insurance company is only required to replace the quality of roof that you currently have. Some homeowners may choose to upgrade at that time and there are affordable options to do so, but this too may mean some research for the homeowner.

Education is key when putting a roof over your head. Without a roof, your house is not complete. Make a wise investment for your home’s future.

For more information about roofing and repair, visit PremierRoofing.net

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816.888.7930 McCriteKC.com August 2014 | Northland Lifestyle

43

Driver’s Notebook

BMW’s Spirited M235i Puts a Smile on Your Face ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY TOM STRONGMAN

B

MW’s M235i is the spiritual cousin to the 1600/2002 from the late 1960s and early 1970s. I bought a white 1600 in 1969 because I couldn’t afford the more powerful 2002 and I loved it. It was small on the outside yet roomy inside, had incredible visibility thanks to the tall windows and it handled like a sports car.

The strategy behind the 2 Series is similar to that used for the 1600/2002: Make a compact coupe with sporty handling and, in the case of the M235i, blistering performance and incredible fuel economy for such a powerful car.

The M235i has 320 twin-turbo horsepower from a 3.0-liter six-cylinder and either an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. The car from BMW’s press fleet had the eightspeed automatic with manual shift paddles, and it was delightful. Hard-core enthusiasts may choose the manual but 44

Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

frankly, the automatic is so good, and can be shifted manually when desired, that it would be my choice.

Base price for the M235i is $44,025. The 240-horsepower 228i has a four-cylinder engine and its base price is $33,025.

My 1600 had several recurring issues that eventually caused me to sell it after a couple of years but I still remember how much fun it was to drive. Those memories came flooding back when I took an M235i on a weekend trip because it was a blast.

I missed a few things on my trip, namely a navigation system, satellite radio and heated seats. Those items would bump the price by $4,450, pushing the sticker price to more than $48,000.

The M235i is fun every time you slip into the deeply

contoured sport seat that fits as if it were made for you. The chassis is tuned to deliver a taut, well-controlled ride and it loves to be tossed into a turn. Still, the ride is compliant enough to be pleasant for everyday driving. The adaptable suspension, M Sport brakes and Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires are perfectly matched.

CONTINUED >

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44251

4 Big Days of Family Fun!

English Landing Park FREE Admission

Live Jazz & Blues

Thursday, August 21, 6 – 10pm

Carnival All Weekend

• Evans Midland Empire Shows Carnival • Community Appreciation Night

Friday, August 22, 6 – 10pm Saturday, August 23, 10am – 10pm Sunday, August 24, 10am – 6pm

Beer Tent All Weekend • Art & Craft Booths Wings Over Water Missouri Bird Show Wild West Show: Blacksnake Hills Gang Reenactments 5K Run • Community Parade • More to Come...

For more information and updates, call 816-505-2227 or visit www.parkvillemo.org Sponsored by Capitol Federal, Park University, BankLiberty, North Kansas City Hospital, NKC Beverage, Meyers Funeral Chapel Northland, A&M Printing, Parkville Coffee, Danny Tinsley Realtor, Embassy Landscape Group, Missouri American Water, Northland Lifestyle, and Mosaic Life Care. Special thanks to English Landing Center. A Main Street Parkville Association event (PCDC, 501©3)

August 2014 | Northland Lifestyle

45

Driver’s Notebook

(CONTINUED)

Being able to select Sport Plus, Sport, Comfort or Eco Pro drive settings with a button on the console lets the driver tailor the car to suit his or her mood. Sport mode is the most fun, of course, because each gear is held a little longer, each shift of the eightspeed automatic is a little firmer and the exhaust sounds throatier. Comfort is a good everyday setting, and Eco Pro is perfect for long stretches of highway travel.

Eco Pro softens the throttle response, lets the car coast with the engine at idle when the throttle is released and cycles the air conditioning on and off to reduce the drag on the engine. The driver can select which of those functions is active.

I selected the coasting feature and disabled the others. Rolling to St. Louis with Interstate 70 traffic that was moving well past the speed limit, I averaged 29.1 miles per gallon. The return trip was interrupted with several rainstorms, but my average was 28.6 for nearly 500 miles of fast driving.

The M235i’s cabin is businesslike. The instrument panel has easyto-read analog gauges. The sport seats have a wide range of adjustability that makes them a great place to be for hours at a time.

Whereas the 1600/2002 had a surprisingly spacious back seat, due mainly to a tall, upright roof, the one in the M235i coupe would be cramped for most adults. The trunk has decent space, and folddown rear seats give some flexibility for carrying large objects.

PRICE The test car’s base price was $44,025. Options included keyless entry and leather seats.

46

Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

AT A GLANCE POINT: The M235i is a ball of fun rolled into a fairly sedate twodoor coupe. The 320-horsepower engine is a delight, sports seats fit like a glove and fuel economy is amazing given the power output of the engine.

COUNTERPOINT: The boy-racer front fascia is a bit overstated, the back seat is small and the price is substantial.

2014 BMW M235I ENGINE:

3.0-liter, 320-horsepower twin-turbocharged six-cyl-

inder Eight-speed automatic Rear-wheel drive WHEELBASE: 105.9 inches CURB WEIGHT: 3,535 pounds BASE PRICE: $44,025 AS DRIVEN: $45,475 MPG RATING: 22 in the city, 32 on the highway TRANSMISSION:

WARRANTY Four years or 50,000 miles. All recommended service

is free for four years or 50,000 miles.

Contact Tom Strongman at Tom@TomStrongman.com.

Please present this coupon to SEA LIFE Aquarium Kansas City Admissions to receive $5 off on a one-day, standard full-price admission ticket for up to four (4) guests. Offer not valid with pre-purchased tickets nor can it be combined with any other offer or discount, including cluster tickets. Offer only valid when walk-up tickets are available. One coupon per person. Offer expires 12/31/14. Coupon Code: SLA-1032

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Creekwood Medical Building II 200 NE 54TH Street, Suite 125 Kansas City, MO 64118 August 2014 | Northland Lifestyle

47

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Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

Dental Hygiene Endo Crowns Implants Whitening Dentures

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Sold Properties

Recently SOLD Northland Properties Subdivision

Average List Price

Average Sold Price

$975,000

$964,500

99%

92

Riss Lake

$531,519

$519,764

98%

28

The National

$481,237

$473,987

98%

57

Shoal Creek Valley

$564,900

$585,691

104%

NC

Copperleaf

$496,011

$527,479

106%

NC

Staley Farms

$468,725

$456,000

97%

241

Forest Ridge Estates

$499,900

$483,700

97%

NC

Green Glades At The Masters

$439,000

$439,900

100%

NC

River Hills

$437,500

$415,000

95%

3

Thousand Oaks

$397,753

$395,075

99%

127

Highlands of Weatherby

$402,335

$411,000

102%

NC

Tiffany Greens

$400,000

$394,775

98%

384

Hills of Monticello

$399,900

$380,000

95%

74

Countrywood

$399,000

$389,000

97%

135

$372,116

$372,116

100%

NC

Briarcliff West

Woodneath Farms

%List To Sold

DOM*

Aggregate Subdivision Sales per Heartland MLS 6/1/2014 – 7/1/2014 NC - New Construction

*Average Days on Market

SOLD The National 6503 Ridge Road $1,450,000 MLS# 1887567

Riss Lake 8138 Clearwater Pointe $1,390,000 MLS# 1876452

Kathleen Smerchek 816.589.0925

Russ Wolfe 816.564.4100

Connor Sweeney 816.217.7352

Ashley Sweeney 816.728.2253

Candi Sweeney 816.591.5590

Kristine Courtney 816.590.1664

www.WolfeSweeney.com

The National 6837 N National Drive $1,299,999 MLS# 1869777

Real Estate Mortgage Title Insurance

6300 N Lucerne Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64151 816.746.2777 August 2014 | Northland Lifestyle

49

Lifestyle Calendar

August NOW-FEBRUARY 2015 BENTON IN BLACK AND WHITE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART

Join the city-wide celebration of Thomas Hart Benton’s 125th birthday! See a selection of lithographs in Gallery 214 and visit your favorite Benton paintings from the permanent collection. Stop by the library’s Benton-related book display.

AUGUST 7, 14, 21, 28 SUMMER JAZZ SERIES TOWN SQUARE AT ZONA ROSA

Join us for our Summer Jazz Series featuring the Everette Devan Trio, Bill Crain Group, Brad Allen Quartet and the Tim Whitmer Quartet. Performances are free and begin at 6:30 p.m.

Yellow Pages to share with your child. Presented by North Kansas City Hospital in cooperation with the LiveBlue store in Zona Rosa.

Pre-register at LiveBlueKC.com

AUGUST 9, 16 FREE OUTDOOR MOVIES MULBERRY LAKE AT BRIARCLIFF VILLAGE

Enjoy a FREE showing of “Fast & Furious 6” on the 9th and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” PG-13 on the 16th at 8:45 p.m./dusk at Mulberry Lake across from Briarcliff Village. Bring blankets and snacks and enjoy the show!

AUGUST 10 RACE FOR THE CURE UNION STATION

Join forces with your neighbors from all over Kansas City at the 21st annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. This 5K event and kids fun run begins at 7:30 a.m. A survivors’ parade is at 9:30. Register online at KomenKansasCity.org.

AUGUST 14-31 CHARLIE PARKER CELEBRATION KANSAS CITY

Organizers have scheduled a series of events to honor Parker, “the Bird,” who would turn 94 on Aug. 29. Parker is one of the most important and influential saxophonists and jazz icons. For more information on all the activities: KCJazzAlive.org or AmericanJazzMuseum.org

AUGUST 8

AUGUST 14 UNICO’S 6TH ANNUAL

WEEKENDER- 6 DEGREES WEST & “JAWS”

MICROBREW FEST

CROWN CENTER SQUARE

ZONA ROSA

Cap off your work week with top local bands and favorite food trucks.

Shop the wares of KC artisans and finish the evening with a famous flick under the stars. Festivities begin at 5 p.m., music at 6 p.m., with the movie starting at approximately 9 p.m. No admission fee.

(Please note pets are not permitted at the event.) 816.274.8444.

All thirsts will be quenched with more than 75 unique brews from a wide variety of regional and national breweries. This year, we will have good showing from new, local breweries and home brewers! The event will take place in the Zona Rosa town square from 4 to 9 p.m. Cool off with some ice-cold beer and some fabulous live music at this community event.

AUGUST 8 BACK TO SCHOOL WITH NORTH KANSAS CITY HOSPITAL LIVEBLUE AT ZONA ROSA

Whether you have a tot or a college student, hear a North Kansas City Hospital healthcare professional and a Charlie’s House representative share tips on keeping your child safe. Pick up the Youth 50

Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

AUGUST 19 FAMILIES SERVING AS GUARDIANS NORTHLAND CATHEDRAL

The Missouri Guardianship Alliance will hold a special one-day seminar to provide critical information for family members who are serving as guardians for a loved one.

The event will focus on filing petitions for guardianship, Social Security and disability information, available supports and more.

Registration is $25 and includes lunch.

Tri-CountyMHS.org/Guardian

tion Institute of Kansas City (RIKC), so attendees can feel good about the plate-full of delicious food samples they eat. For the sixth annual Bacon Fest, attendees will find a bacon foodie’s paradise. Come embrace this quirky event filled with unique bacon-themed cuisine, local beer selections, and live music. BaconfestKC.com

Irish comics. Festival hours: 5 to 11 p.m., Friday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

Call 816.561.7555 or visit KCIrishFest.com for ticket information.

AUGUST 28 QUEEN BEE SHOPPING SPREE – STRESSLESS SCREENINGS HEALTH FAIR THE GROVE AT ZONA ROSA

During Jazz on the Square, take action for your own healthy future by getting health screenings, including DermaScan skin damage scan, height/weight/BMI test and bone density screening. A North Kansas City Hospital scheduler can register participants for self-referred screenings including mammogram, carotid artery, lung cancer CT, abdominal aortic ultrasound and cardiac calcium score.

AUGUST 29-31 KANSAS CITY IRISH FEST CROWN CENTER SQUARE AND

AUGUST 23 BACON FEST KC UNION STATION

Bacon Fest raises funds to support medical rehabilitation, employment placement, and disability services for the Rehabilita-

Turning Dance Dreams into Reality!

OFF CENTER THEATRE

Commemorate Kansas City’s proud Celtic heritage with three days of music, dancing and exhibits. The festival will feature more than two dozen locally and nationally known bands, playing traditional music and Celtic rock. Off Center Theatre will host

AUGUST 30-31 BRITISH INVASION NIGHT & ALL BRITISH CAR SHOW ZONA ROSA

The Kansas City All British Car Show will be held on the second level of the Northwest Parking Garage by Dillard’s. Classic British cars will begin arriving to the scene starting at 8 a.m., so make plans now to enjoy an amazing collection of classic British automobiles. Can’t make it out on Sunday, stop by for British Invasion Night for a mini British car show. Kansas City All British entrants will be parked around the Square showcasing their cars in anticipation of Sunday’s official show.

Enroll Online Today at

AllAboutDancebyKatye.com 8560 N Green Hills Rd KCMO 64154

816-436-1159 August 2014 | Northland Lifestyle

51

P

R

O

UD

SPONSOR

The

S O F

Market NO

RTH

LAND

Animals & Animal Care Wild Birds Unlimited (Northland) wbu.com libertymo (816) 415-4303

Art & Photography Art & Frame Warehouse-Northland afwkc.com (816) 584-8009

Automotive

Precision Collision Center precisioncollisionkc.com (816) 781-9630

Dentists & Orthodontics

Antioch Dental Group fredbaileydds.com (816) 452-9700 Berry Sousa Dental childrenstoothdoc.com (816) 746-5437 Burleson Orthodontics burlesonorthodontics.com (816) 759-0123 Dentistry for Children kidsdentistkc.com (816) 548-3400 Jim Anderson, DDS jimandersondds.com (816) 454-3336

Education

College Nannies & Tutors (Northland) collegenanniesandtutors.com (816) 256-5907 Park University park.edu/nlls (888) 319-9522

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Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

E LIF

ST

Y

LE

Entertainment & Recreation

All About Dance allaboutdancebykatye.com (816) 436-1159 Boy Scouts Of America beascout.org (816) 569-4979 Hot Spot Pools & Spas, LLC libertyhottub.com (816) 781-8884 Lees Summit Chamber of Commerce lsmeansbusiness.com (816) 969-1220 Legoland Discovery Center (SeaLife) visitsealife.com/kansascity (816) 556-3234 Main Street Parkville Association/Parkville Community Improvement District parkvillemo.org/mspa.html (816) 505-2227 Visions KC at Courtyard Marriott visionskc.com (816) 820-2541

Financial Services & Planning Citizens Bank & Trust ebankcbt.com (816) 459-4000

Cornerstone Mortgage, Inc. cornerstonemortgage.com (816) 800-8810

Health & Wellness

Property & Real Estate

Home Services

The Rob Ellerman Team Reece & Nichols Realtors therobellermanteam.com (816) 251-1435

North Kansas City Community Center nkccc.org (816) 300-0531

Advanced Home Energy (913) 226-3201 All Season Roofing asrkc.com (816) 213-8804 KC Wood kcwood.com (913) 422-3320 Midwest Lifetime Roof Systems lifetimeroofsystems.com (913) 393-3008 Premier Siding, Roofing & Home Improvement premierroofing.net (816) 436-2050 Rock And Wall Landscape rockandwalllandscape.com (816) 392-7262 Tile & Stone Warehouse tileandstonewarehouse.com (913) 432-7900 Two Blind Girls budgetblinds.kc.com (816) 505-5515

Medical Clinics & Facilities Liberty Hospital libertyhospital.org (816) 407-2315

Mosaic Life Care - Parkville mymosaiclifecare.org (816) 569-1600 Pediatric Care North pediatriccarenorth.com (816) 587-3200 Saint Luke’s Health Systems saintlukesweightloss.com (816) 932-5100 Weston Family Clinic & Medical Spa wfcmedspa.com (816) 640-2762

Other

Meyers Funeral Chapel meyersfuneralchapel.com (816) 741-0251

RE/MAX Results Preferred Properties preferredpropertieskc.com (816) 777-3233

Wolfe-Sweeney & Associates LLC wolfesweeney.com (816) 746-2777

Restaurants, Food & Beverage Cascone’s Restaurant & Lounge cascones.com (816) 454-7977 Rusty Horse Tavern rustyhorsetavern.com (816) 505-0389 Stone Canyon Pizza Company stonecanyonpizza.com (816) 505-0389

Salons & Spas

Skin Solutions KC skinsolutionskc.com (816) 587-5299

Senior Living & Services McCrite Plaza at Briarcliff mccritekc.com (816) 888-7930

Riverside Nursing & Rehabilitation Center LLC riversidenursingandrehab.com (816) 741-5105 Senior Helpers seniorhelpers.com (816) 455-9300 The Gardens at Barry Road bethesdaseniorliving.com (816) 584-3205

Specialty Shops

American Pawn & Balano Gallery americanpawnandgallery.com (816) 436-6888

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F TL K

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60 Years Later...

Still the most noticeable landmark in the Northland Cascone Family Owned and Operated since 1954

816.454.7977 ~ www.cascones.com 3733 North Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64116 August 2014 | Northland Lifestyle

53

Parting Thoughts

Government Jam WORDS RACHEL C. MURPHY

I

’m an avid gardener. Avid, meaning ‘enthusiastic’, not ‘successful’. I shouldn’t say that. I’m great with herbs and this year, my squash and tomatoes are all blooming nicely. The wait for fresh produce became a bit too tiring and I stumbled upon something to make the time pass more quickly.

As I walk my dog each day on more or less the same route, I pass a small roadside park. It’s a modest affair: a couple of swings, with a jungle gym rooted in recycled tires a few yards down. Behind it lies only forest, the kind that the deer, squirrels and beavers that I see intermittently love to hide in during the day. It’s also the home of blackberry brambles.

I remember picking blackberries at my grandmother’s house when I was young. They were never sweet until it was hot and sticky and we would spray down with the Ozark elixir of Avon Skin-So-Soft and try to pick our fill. They don’t call them brambles for nothing. They don’t yield their treasures easily, instead guarding them with thorns and stickers.

Well, nothing has changed since I was a child. Along the walking path, a few weeks ago, I began to spy bright red berries. They called to me to come off the pavement and into the grass to see what sweetness they may hold. Off I trotted, faithful pooch in tow, to see what I would find.

I found a treasure trove of fat blackberries nestled under leaves and among the bright red unripe berries. I tried one straight off the bush. It was sweet, much sweeter than the mutantly large Driscoll berries safe in their plastic cases at the store. They were smaller, but they tasted like nature and summer and endless youth.

So I did was any sane person would do: I took the unused doggie

54

Northland Lifestyle | August 2014

poop bag and started picking. I figured that I would pick a cup or two, maybe enough to make a small pie. Instead, the savage hunger of a forager took over. I was Katniss Everdeen, foraging for her family and for survival. I was a gatherer, going back to my roots.

Getting groceries had never been so fulfilling, as I stood in the heat and thorns, picking berries, brushing away spiders and watching aubergine juice run down my fingers. My dog was confused.

This became a routine. Take the dog for a walk, bring an extra bag. Pick a pound of berries. New ones ripened every two or three days and I went back for them. It was either me or the birds. The birds don’t pay taxes in this neighborhood, so I figured that I had a right to them. Soon I had several pounds of berries, ready for whatever I could make them into.

The answer, my friends, is jam. I made jam. I’m not sure why I always had the image of a long laborious process for making jam, but I did. After spilling a few cupfuls into a cobbler, I set about the arduous labor of smashing blackberries and setting them to boil.

Who am I kidding? That was fun.

A few minutes later, after the addition of pectin, a dash of sugar and a few sage leaves, I had what looked to be, by all rights, jam.

I canned it for preservation and looked on my accomplishment with a sense of pride. Not only had I made delicious jam, I had made it for nearly free! Government jam is the best jam.

What’s the lesson in all this? Besides the fact that you should always have an extra doggie bag, it’s that there are little gifts all around you, if you slow down enough to see them. Look into the trees a little. You never know what you might find.

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